Healthier Together: Larimer County's Public Health Podcast

What's up in public health this week?

Every May, we celebrate Healthy and Safe Swimming Week in the lead up to Memorial Day. Healthy & Safe Swimming Week highlights the roles of swimmers, caregivers, facility owners and operators, and public health officials in preventing disease outbreaks, pool chemical injuries, and drowning. This week, Kate Uchitel, Environmental Health Specialist here at LCDHE, joins us to talk about how the health department works to keep public pools safe and share steps we can all take to stay safe and healthy this summer.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

This week, we are thrilled to bring you a feature episode with Dr. Adrienne LeBailly. Dr. LeBailly served as the previous director of the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment before retiring in 2019 after 31 years at the health department. She joins us to share some of the history of public health in Larimer County and reflect on how the work of public health has changed over time.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

In recognition of Clean Air Month, we’re joined by Stefanie Shoup, Deputy Director for Regulatory Affairs for the Air Pollution Control Division at CDPHE, for a conversation about air quality in Colorado and the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and protect public health. We discuss how air quality data is collected, the primary drivers of poor air quality in Colorado, newly adopted regulations addressing priority air toxic contaminants, and how residents can stay informed.

You can sign up for air quality alerts, find historical data for your region, and learn more about the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division at cdphe.colorado.gov/apcd.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

Northern Colorado has experienced more than twice as many red flag warnings as it had at this point in 2025. Ricardo Perez, Public Engagement Manager for the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management, joins us this week to discuss steps we can all take to be prepared for wildfires this season.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

Social media’s impact on youth mental health has been in the news a lot lately with recent lawsuits against Meta, Google, and others. This week, we asked two guests to share how they see the impact of social media show up in their work with youth:

• Jonathan Judge, Director of Community Engagement & Campaigns at Rise Above Colorado, shares what Rise Above has learned about youth mental health and social media from their bi-annual, statewide youth survey and some new educational resources they've created to address this growing need.
• Dr. Sarah Taylor-Cavelier, clinical child and adolescent psychologist at the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado, talks about how social media shows up in clinical settings and shares guidance for families looking to find a healthy relationship with screens.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

In early March, Fort Collins City Council adopted five major priorities for its 2026-2028 term. One of those priorities was Vision Zero, a program working to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries in Fort Collins by 2032. This week, we sat down with the Mayor of Fort Collins, Emily Francis, and Deputy Director of Planning, Development, and Transportation Services for Fort Collins, Drew Brooks, to learn more about what the current data tells us, what steps the City of Fort Collins is taking to reach this goal, and what residents can do to support these efforts.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

This week we're celebrating National Infant Immunization Week! Immunizations provide the best protection against many serious diseases for babies and young children when they need it most. Our Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program pairs first-time moms-to-be with specially trained nurses who walk alongside them through pregnancy and the postpartum period. Two of our NFP nurses join us to answer common questions about infant immunizations and discuss how they build relationships with new families and work together to lay the groundwork for a healthy future.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

LCDHE recently adopted a new strategic plan for 2026 to 2028. This week, Strategic Planning, Health Equity, and Partnerships Program Manager, Talia Hirsch, walks us through the new strategic plan and how it informs the work we do at the health department.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

National Public Health Week is celebrated annually during the first full week of April. Throughout the week we come together to celebrate the impact of public health in improving our day-to-day lives, safeguarding our families, and strengthening our communities. The week is also about honoring the public health workers who show up for us every day. So, for this week’s episode, we invited our staff to come share a bit about why they work in public health.

Each year, the Board of Larimer County Commissioners presents the Brendan Unitt Community Service Award to a Larimer County employee who demonstrates a passion for serving their community. The 2025 award went to Ricardo Perez, Public Engagement Manager for the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management. Ricardo joins us to talk about the award and the work that he was recognized for.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].

What's up in public health this week?

Transportation is often a significant barrier to accessing healthcare, community services, and social spaces. Jenna Robinson, Executive Director at SAINT Volunteer Transportation, joins us to talk about the work SAINT does and the important role it plays in supporting public health.

Do you have a question about public health in Larimer County? Or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected].